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Georgia is a US state in the South. The state was named after Great Britain's King George II and was the last of the 13 original U.S. colonies. Georgia's capital, Atlanta, is the ninth largest city in the United States. The state is also known as the Peach State and Empire State of the South.

Columbus - home of Columbus State University, the Chattahoochee RiverWalk, and the National Civil War Naval Museum

Dalton — carpet capital of the world and home to the Northwest Georgia Trade and Convention Center, which showcases the Georgia Athletic Coaches' Hall of Fame

Macon — cherry blossom capital of Georgia and home of the Allman Brothers Band Museum.

Savannah — Georgia's first established city, first state capital, and a heartland of colonial culture. Savannah was the host city for the sailing competitions during the 1996 Summer Olympics held in Atlanta.

Valdosta — called the Azalea City, it is not far from Wild Adventures, the only amusement park in south Georgia

During the American Civil War, Georgia was hit hard by William T. Sherman's "march to the sea" and a lot of its infrastructure was destroyed. However, soon after the state rebuilt and by the turn to the twentieth century it was one of the more advanced states in the South. During the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s Atlanta came to be known as "the city too busy to hate" and native Georgian Martin Luther King was one of the most important civil rights leaders. Georgia has shed its image as a largely agricultural state it had in the 19th century and is home to the headquarters of several major corporations as well as the busiest airport in the world, Heartsfield Jackson international airport in Atlanta. While most people thinking of Georgia immediately think of Atlanta, there is still a lot the rural Georgia of yore left and Southern hospitality has lost nothing of its charm and is - contrary to common prejudices - more often than not extended to people of all origins and creeds.

Amtrak serves Atlanta (unsurprisingly as the city was founded as a railroad terminus). Train travel in the USA in general has entered a decline in the 1950s and Georgia is no exception, however since about the year 2000 trains are regaining some popularity, with Amtrak ridership growing continuously and now almost fifty percent higher than at the turn of the millennium. Trains are still unbeaten in terms of legroom, views and people you can meet. While traveling by train in the US is not necessarily fast or cheap, it is still a uniquely stylish experience and a great way to get around if time is not critical. For more on schedules (often few and far between) and prices (not necessarily cheaper than flying) see Amtrak's website.

Mint julep is a combination of mint, bourbon, sugar and water, popular in the South.

Have a glass of sweet tea. Sweet tea is a staple of the South and is served everywhere, from fast food chains to Atlanta's high-end restaurants. Varieties of sweet tea include mint, raspberry and lemonade flavorings.

Don't make jokes about Jim Crow or Sherman's March to the Sea. Whistling "Marching Through Georgia" will not win you friends (this may seem obvious, but the lyrics and origins are less well known than the tune)

Like much of the South, Georgia can be oppressively hot and humid during the summer. Shorts and flip-flops are widely accepted indoors and outdoors during the summer months.

In the same vein, at nice restaurants you can often get away with shorts as long as you wear shoes and a collared shirt. This is easier during the day than in the evening.

Unfortunately, many people and offices run the air conditioning down to 70F in the summer, and crank the heat up to 80F in the winter. As a result, dress that's appropriate for outside may not be suited for indoors. The best way to cope is to dress in layers, so you can adjust as needed.

Florida - Bordering Georgia to the south, it offers copious beaches, family-friendly theme parks in Orlando and Tampa, historic Southern cultural immersions in its north, and one of the nation's largest national parks, the Everglades, and nightlife centers in its south.

Alabama - Georgia's western neighbor is home to the Space and Rocket Center and the Talladega Motor Speedway.